synthetic gut=total package

[graycrait]

I know there is a myth/rumor or truth that Jim Courier used syn gut his whole pro career. If that is so I wonder how many rackets he used during a match? I've tried many syn guts and don't use them myself any longer and I grew up with woodies strung with syn gut.

For me Kevlar x Zyex is the best feeling and control string $/hr of play. At this point I've used all the usual suspect strings: full bed syn gut, syn gut x nat gut, syn gut x poly, syn gut x zyex and syn gut x ashaway kevlar.

I string syn gut in crosses with poly mains for older players who think poly might work for them and string it for teenagers who are still shanking balls on a semi regular basis. Most of the older players generally like one of the expensive multis if they are not using poly.

I have one friend who swings several 11oz Ti6 (115") with Ashaway Kevlar x Syn Gut.

If we count Origin as a Syn Gut then I have several friends who like that fullbed at 60lb+ and I could play with for the rest of my life if I had to. But Origin does not play like a typical syn gut.

 

[darklore009]

What’d you think?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I played this string roughly 2 weeks. I have to say, its one of the softer synthetics I played with compared to the ones that are frequently discussed. (ex: Prince Duraflex/Gosen OG Sheep Micro). The response is pleasant to hit with as a strung it around 55 ibs. The power level is much higher than my ProTuff but that can be made up either higher tension or hitting the ball much lower to compensate the high arc angle it has. Not to mention the string has gotten attention in the tennis community in the area I play at; asking me what string are those and where to get it. The string remain consistent throughout its life; excluding the power level does increase as it lose tension, but its manageable with minor change in technique. It does fray after the strings have friction with each other, exposing the metal foil this string has to give its shiny aesthetic.

Will it be a string I recommend for synthetic users to try? Yes

Is it good enough to replace my current setup? No, the thing that held it back from being my new string setup is the price per set. I paid a premium of $8 per set from the local store. Already its up there with a multifiliament pricing when you can get that type of string around that price. If youre a string breaker on synthetics, I wouldnt recommend it as it isnt up with the durability/price ratio to make it worth the purchase. Youre pretty much paying a high price for the aesthetics only.

 

[TennisCJC]

I know there is a myth/rumor or truth that Jim Courier used syn gut his whole pro career. If that is so I wonder how many rackets he used during a match? I've tried many syn guts and don't use them myself any longer and I grew up with woodies strung with syn gut.

For me Kevlar x Zyex is the best feeling and control string $/hr of play. At this point I've used all the usual suspect strings: full bed syn gut, syn gut x nat gut, syn gut x poly, syn gut x zyex and syn gut x ashaway kevlar.

I string syn gut in crosses with poly mains for older players who think poly might work for them and string it for teenagers who are still shanking balls on a semi regular basis. Most of the older players generally like one of the expensive multis if they are not using poly.

I have one friend who swings several 11oz Ti6 (115") with Ashaway Kevlar x Syn Gut.

If we count Origin as a Syn Gut then I have several friends who like that fullbed at 60lb+ and I could play with for the rest of my life if I had to. But Origin does not play like a typical syn gut.

I don't think it is a rumor. I've heard Jim Courier say he used Gosen syn gut when he was winning slams. He also had a video saying he was using syn gut mains with a lux copoly cross on the old man legends tour. Prince syn gut also had a few pros using it back in the 1970s and 1980s. I have no idea how many rackets Jim used but my guess is he was changing frames at ball changes as Lendl started that process in the 1980s.

 

[Marcus14]

first of all this feels like AA... so im a relative old timer... and i too kept drifting back to syn gut.. i tried hybrids.. full poly.. regular gut... multi... nothing felt better and had a favorable price point than syn gut...

That being said.. i used to be a prince syn gut duraflex guy for a while... but decided to try wilson syn gut power because i heard they might be the same or very similar... does anybody on here have any experience with this string?? i tried it and it feels very similar... little less spin.. but overall a very good string for the price... i look around and I really cant find anything on this string..

ive tried all other syn guts and those two feel the most similar to each other...

Poly is superior in all aspects to syngut. I think you may like syngut because you don't have enough RHS to really take advantage of Poly.

 

[Stretchy Man]

Poly is superior in all aspects to syngut. I think you may like syngut because you don't have enough RHS to really take advantage of Poly.

Poly is only superior if you can generate enough racquet head speed, and you have no arm problems. For the majority of recreational players, syngut is superior.

 

[Yuri Klyachkin]

Hi everyone - loving this thread!
Question: If I am going from a full bed of NRG2 17g @ 49lbs to Volkl Classic Syn Gut - how much higher should I be going on the tension? I guess I can always experiment, but curious how playability changes going from MF to SG. Racket is Yonex Ezone DR98 (310g), stock.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Today, full bed of Volkl Classic 17 at 60 lbs in my Six.One 16x18. Good spin. Good feel - I prefer the feel to polys. Definitely not sliding, because I had to adjust strings quite a bit. I may just play all summer with this setup. I hadn't played full synthetic in a long time. Strings won't last, I predict, more than 12 hours of doubles, but that's OK because I always play poly too long.

 

[fuzz nation]

Hi everyone - loving this thread!
Question: If I am going from a full bed of NRG2 17g @ 49lbs to Volkl Classic Syn Gut - how much higher should I be going on the tension? I guess I can always experiment, but curious how playability changes going from MF to SG. Racket is Yonex Ezone DR98 (310g), stock.

I've been using syn. gut in my own frames pretty much forever. Compared with multifibers, I get a little more of a "crisp" feel with syn. gut while also enjoying a moderate degree of softness that keeps my arm happy (poly is too stiff for me). That crispness seems to hold up for a bit longer with syn. gut compared with many multis I've sampled that usually degrade rather steadily as I play them.

Switching from multifiber to syn. gut will probably give you a slightly firmer layout, but Volkl Classic SG isn't among the stiffer syn. guts that I've used. It might feel fine for you at the same tension as your NRG2, but the first try will give you a reference to work from going forward. I think the switch from a multi to a syn. gut is probably less drastic than switching to a poly or poly hybrid.

 

[Rabbit]

I have to put a pitch in for Gosen OGSM 18. It's $44/reel, breaks after about 6 sets when in a hybrid with Lux Timo 18 and has all the pluses with none of the minuses of an all poly set up. I've thought about trying other strings for the mains and then reject it. I am on the lookout for a cross string as good as Lux Timo if anyone has any suggestions.

The great thing about synthetic gut is that it a) takes the shock of the ball/string bed collision (as a string should) and b) breaks when it is supposed to so you don't play it too long. If you find you're not getting the life out of your strings you think you should, you can always up the gauge to the next thicker.

 

[TennisCJC]

Poly is superior in all aspects to syngut. I think you may like syngut because you don't have enough RHS to really take advantage of Poly.

I think there are lots of really good players with high racket head speed that would perform better with a syn gut/poly hybrid vs all poly. Jim Courrier is using syn gut/lux hybrid on legends tour and has RHS to still serve over 100 mph and hit heavy FHs. Personally, I think syn gut/poly or multi/poly or gut/poly is better than all poly for my game. I imagine all syn gut is the correct choice for some players too depending on play style. If a good 4.5 level player plays mostly doubles and uses S&V and attacks the net a lot, then all syn gut may be the better option. A syn gut bed strung a bit tight, plays pretty nicely for comfort, serves, feel, volleys and approach shots.

 

[TennisCJC]

I have to put a pitch in for Gosen OGSM 18. It's $44/reel, breaks after about 6 sets when in a hybrid with Lux Timo 18 and has all the pluses with none of the minuses of an all poly set up. I've thought about trying other strings for the mains and then reject it. I am on the lookout for a cross string as good as Lux Timo if anyone has any suggestions.

The great thing about synthetic gut is that it a) takes the shock of the ball/string bed collision (as a string should) and b) breaks when it is supposed to so you don't play it too long. If you find you're not getting the life out of your strings you think you should, you can always up the gauge to the next thicker.

Yea, personally, I like multi mains/co-poly cross best but syn gut with poly is a great option too. Well to be totally honest, natural gut with co-poly is my favorite but cannot see paying $36+++ for gut.

 

[SlvrDragon50]

I have been using OGSM with MSV Hex in the mains for a long time and really enjoy the combo. Noticeably more spin from a regular full bed of syn gut, but not too much harsher. I am planning on switching to a natural gut w/ poly cross though since I no longer string my own racquets, and Klip is pretty cheap relative to the cost of frequent restringing.

 

[blai212]

jus tried head velocity/signum pro poly plasma hybrid in my vcore 98 the other day...lasted me jus over 2 hours lol...even though I do my own stringing, one must ask, “do i REALLY want to restring my racquet every 2 hours?” head velocity did feel nice but not having to restring every 2 hours feels even nicer
https://media3.giphy.com/media/11zU4IDJeg75Sg/giphy.gif

For reference, I am a strong 4.0 player that can keep up with 4.5s...my go to setup is cyclone 17g//SPPP @47/45lbs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sander001]

How is syn gut comfort vs multifilament/polyester cross hybrid?

On my BLX Tour90, I have multi mains x poly cross(Pro Line 1.20mm) 50/40lbs. I got tennis elbow from using too small grip size and this set up isn't as comfortable as it was last season.

I'm stringing up the old Pro Staff 85 with syn gut @ 50/40lbs. Will this be more comfortable? It's Ashaway syn gut, the leftovers from Kevlar packs.

 

[Rabbit]

@Sander001, IMO, synthetic gut mains (versus multi) make the string bed feel firmer, not to the point of being uncomfortable or unyielding, but they are just crisper I guess.

 

[Rabbit]

In addition to all the other pluses about synthetic gut, I can also add that the single greatest thing is its commonality. Synthetic gut doesn't vary between brands as much as other strings. If you're some place that doesn't have Gosen and you've broken all your strings, they can pretty much substitute Babolat and you're up and running with very little adjustment.

 

[Shaolin]

This thread keeps coming up.

It's not the total package in any way because it breaks in 5 minutes.

I remember before switching to poly going through 2-3 racquets a set breaking syn gut.

I say good riddance to it besides using it as a cross paired with a string that can actually last an hour or two.

 

[Rabbit]

@Shaolin

and by the way, Kwai Chang Caine? He was a wuss....Chuck Norris owned him in Lone Wolf McQuade.

 

[Shaolin]

@Shaolin

and by the way, Kwai Chang Caine? He was a wuss....Chuck Norris owned him in Lone Wolf McQuade.

Haha...Silly Rabbit. Chuck Norris is undefeated by everyone.

 

[Rabbit]

Haha...Silly Rabbit. Chuck Norris is undefeated by everyone.

Not so quick, grasshopper. Chuck Norris is 0-1 against Bruce Lee, please refer to Way of the Dragon!

But, it's true that Chuck Norris is the only one to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.

 

[Sir Faultalot]

Has anyone tried a hybrid gage syn gut set-up? I’m digging 16G PSGD in my TT95 but I would like some more action from the mains- like how a poly/multi hybrid plays. I was thinking about trying a 17G main and 15G cross for fun.

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

Total package? No.
Total fun as mains with poly crosses? Yes.

 

[ron schaap]

I have been using OGSM with MSV Hex in the mains for a long time and really enjoy the combo. Noticeably more spin from a regular full bed of syn gut, but not too much harsher. I am planning on switching to a natural gut w/ poly cross though since I no longer string my own racquets, and Klip is pretty cheap relative to the cost of frequent restringing.

Maybe a little more spin and power when fresh but it is inevitable that in that kind of hybrid the sharp edges of msv hex eat trough the soft sgut in no time! Same with multi or ngut hybrid. I did try sgut with smooth 1.30 soft poly and thats is durable enough however missing a lot of spin potential compared to poly stringbed
Courier wasnt the only sgut player, it is said Hewitt, who wasnt a spinmonster, and Djoker and Thiem only during beginning of their career, were too.
i guess they needed a lot of restringings then, which makes sgut more expensive than a durable poly.

 

[SlvrDragon50]

Maybe a little more spin and power when fresh but it is inevitable that in that kind of hybrid the sharp edges of msv hex eat trough the soft sgut in no time! Same with multi or ngut hybrid. I did try sgut with smooth 1.30 soft poly and thats is durable enough however missing a lot of spin potential compared to poly stringbed
Courier wasnt the only sgut player, it is said Hewitt, who wasnt a spinmonster, and Djoker and Thiem only during beginning of their career, were too.
i guess they needed a lot of restringings then, which makes sgut more expensive than a durable poly.

Hah, I actually don't really ever break through my OGSM unless I play way past playability. And I use 18 gauge OGSM as well! I've never been a huge string breaker since I unfortunately hit with minimal top spin

 

[Rabbit]

Has anyone tried a hybrid gage syn gut set-up? I’m digging 16G PSGD in my TT95 but I would like some more action from the mains- like how a poly/multi hybrid plays. I was thinking about trying a 17G main and 15G cross for fun.

You'd be fine to do that. Mixing gauges isn't that big of a deal.

 

[Rabbit]

Maybe a little more spin and power when fresh but it is inevitable that in that kind of hybrid the sharp edges of msv hex eat trough the soft sgut in no time! Same with multi or ngut hybrid. I did try sgut with smooth 1.30 soft poly and thats is durable enough however missing a lot of spin potential compared to poly stringbed

The only disagreement I have here is that it depends on how much racket head speed you address the ball with. I found poly to offer great control, but it was uncomfortable. Hence my swing speed began to decrease over time. Going back to synthetic gut, I'm back to swinging faster so I get more spin.

Courier wasnt the only sgut player, it is said Hewitt, who wasnt a spinmonster, and Djoker and Thiem only during beginning of their career, were too.
i guess they needed a lot of restringings then, which makes sgut more expensive than a durable poly.

Also, Navratilova used to practice with syngut and play with natural gut. I think Shriver played syngut for most of her career as back in the day, Prince rackets couldn't be strung with natural gut as it wasn't long enough.

 

[SOY78]

Now the only time I use synthetic is when it is in the mains with smooth round poly in the crosses I really don't like moving strings back so this is why I really like the syn.gut mains and poly crosses hybrid.

 

[el__zopilote]

I just tried OG Sheep at 58 lbs in my Pure Drive and I have to say, it was ..... Mua! Here's the thing with Synthetic Gut: You feel so connected to the ball.

 

[Humbi_HTX]

I just tried OG Sheep at 58 lbs in my Pure Drive and I have to say, it was ..... Mua! Here's the thing with Synthetic Gut: You feel so connected to the ball.

I always keep OGSM 16g/17g on hand, but on my frames I use 18g for the crosses as hybrid with 17g/18g poly on the mains at 54-52lbs. The durability and comfort is great for a rec player like myself. I have played with them in full bed as well, but I have to string it tighter and don't particularly enjoy the feel of such tight string bed. Gosen will have me as a customer for long.

 

[lucieisland]

I think s-gut is some of the best string ever.

of course, there is no metal fiber that makes it more pop, more magical, of course there is no mysterious chemical agent added specially that makes it more comfortable, of course, there is not 30 million micro fibers which are entwined and glued together in very high technology resin, of course, there are not hundreds of processes of heating, then cooling, then stretching, then re-heating , then twisting, then heating,.

but he doesn't cost much, and he doesn't lie.
it doesn't promise you to play lavishly for 15 hours. he says he's fine for a limited time.

it is criticized for its fragility, but it gives its maximum during this time.

we accept that some poly are superb, costing more than $ 15 a set, and which die after 2 hours, but we also criticize simple s-gut of outdated technology, which plays very well for 3 hours, and which does not cost only $ 3 ...

 

[esm]

I think s-gut is some of the best string ever.

of course, there is no metal fiber that makes it more pop, more magical, of course there is no mysterious chemical agent added specially that makes it more comfortable, of course, there is not 30 million micro fibers which are entwined and glued together in very high technology resin, of course, there are not hundreds of processes of heating, then cooling, then stretching, then re-heating , then twisting, then heating,.

but he doesn't cost much, and he doesn't lie.
it doesn't promise you to play lavishly for 15 hours. he says he's fine for a limited time.

it is criticized for its fragility, but it gives its maximum during this time.

we accept that some poly are superb, costing more than $ 15 a set, and which die after 2 hours, but we also criticize simple s-gut of outdated technology, which plays very well for 3 hours, and which does not cost only $ 3 ...

That is true.
I basically use 3 brands of Syn gut.
the most expensive one is £3 each, then the £1.8, and the cheapest one is just a hair under £1...
They easily last me 6 to 8 hours, does the job, very easy to string and kind on my fingers. Lll

 

[lucieisland]

That is true.
I basically use 3 brands of Syn gut.
the most expensive one is £3 each, then the £1.8, and the cheapest one is just a hair under £1...
They easily last me 6 to 8 hours, does the job, very easy to string and kind on my fingers. Lll

shhh! Don't say it, some users can paid $15-20 for un string who died after 2 or 3 hours, could not catch it, and could have a heart attack! ..

I absolutely agree with you.

it's like super stiff arm-aching frames, stuffed with tech, when in fact some old tech frames that are completely outdated, just with graphite, and very soft do the job a thousand times better! .. but must not say it!

 

[AceyMan]

How many hours do you get out of Pacific Prime?

I don't count hours, but only the moments we spend together. Moments painting juicy bunnies just inside the baseline tape.

There's something about the bounce of a fresh syngut bed that you just can't buy. I mean, it's $3.50 a set, but for two to five hours, it's liked pickled natural gut. Or something.

Love the stuff.

/Acey

 

[BenC]

Has anyone tried a hybrid gage syn gut set-up? I’m digging 16G PSGD in my TT95 but I would like some more action from the mains- like how a poly/multi hybrid plays. I was thinking about trying a 17G main and 15G cross for fun.

Late reply but one of the things I've been toying with is putting OGSM 18g crosses with various 16g synthetic gut mains. The mains move all over the place, it feels like there's more spin and pocketing, and the durability is hilariously bad as the crosses saw through the mains in less than a few hours, if even that. Cheap and feels great for this syngut acolyte.

Gamma and Dunlop 18g synthetic gut don't seem to have this effect - the string bed locks up and it plays no different from a full bed of 16g synthetic gut.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I think people that are breaking syn gut in 2-3 hours need to look at the frame they are playing with. I find frames affect string life more than anything. All my Babolats were string eaters, whereas all my Phantoms, esp the 18x20's never break strings. My wife's Clash is a string eater too.

If you are a string breaker, do yourself a favor and get a frame that doesn't eat through strings. It'll pay off in the long run. Having to play full poly for durability because you are using a stiff as heck racket with wide beams and an open string pattern is doing your arm and pocket book a disservice.

 

[SinneGOAT]

I think people that are breaking syn gut in 2-3 hours need to look at the frame they are playing with. I find frames affect string life more than anything. All my Babolats were string eaters, whereas all my Phantoms, esp the 18x20's never break strings. My wife's Clash is a string eater too.

If you are a string breaker, do yourself a favor and get a frame that doesn't eat through strings. It'll pay off in the long run. Having to play full poly for durability because you are using a stiff as heck racket with wide beams and an open string pattern is doing your arm and pocket book a disservice.

Honestly, gravity pro or just the gravity line is the answer. Soft, decent power and plow, and a tight pattern but due to the head shape it allows for more access to spin. I put a hybrid with gut in there and I hit for long periods of time, lasted me almost a month of around 10-15 hours a week. 16 gauge gut with BBO.

 

[TagUrIt]

Glad this thread was resurrected! I made the switch to synthetic gut a few months ago and I’ve been loving how it plays. I use Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 and it gives me everything I ever got from Yonex Poly Tour Pro except the price. I string it at 57lbs and it plays great. I’m not a string breaker, but I do hit with a lot of power. I can get about 8-12 hours before the strings are so mangled they can’t be moved/put back into place.

 

[jalapeno74]

Count me in here
Really enjoy a fullbed of fresh SynGut, especially from Kirschbaum which is soft AND crisp at the same time.

My arm cant handle poly at all at the moment, so I have to use SG, NG or Multis and for my style (precise balls with varying tempo and a heavy serve) this is fine. I use spin but not all the time, only when it suits to confuse my opponent.

My favorite Multi is Velocity and due to some injuries its what gives me the least problems at the moment but once this gets better, I will start hybriding with V/K SG again.

I also like Babolat SpiralTek. Gosen is kinda harsh to my shoulder (odd, but it is what it is) unfortunately and Forten Sweet is not available here, so I stick with what I have.

Since I dont break strings Often with my Gravitys (great sticks btw), I cut the SG usually out after 10h max. For a couple of bucks, just great

 

[AceyMan]

Since all the syngut junkies have eyes on this thread ...

Does anyone have playing time with Yonex Dynawire. Or the other one, the "standard" syngut, Monopreme.

You know I'm always in the hunt for the hot new version of a fifty year old design <hehe>.

/Acey

I've got a packet of the Monopreme but haven't laced it up in anything. If I do, I'll add my feels here.

 

[BenC]

Does anyone have playing time with Yonex Dynawire. Or the other one, the "standard" syngut, Monopreme.

Dynawire yes, but it didn't really seem that different from any other syngut to me. Broke quickly too.

 

[Icsa]

Hi! I'm looking for some feedback on Kirschbaum Synthetic Gut 1.30 before I buy a reel. It only comes in reels so I can't try it with a single pack. TT University doesn't list it either. I'm reading some reviews on Am.... about it breaking during stringing. Is the string this soft/fragile? How quickly does it break during play? Any other feedback regarding feel/control/tension/spin when compared to other popular strings like Gamma, Prince or Gosen in full bed? I like synthetic gut 16 in full bed at 58lbs. Thanks!

 

[jalapeno74]

In my experience Kirschbaum SG in 16 or 17 is softer than Gosen but not mushy. Kinda goldilocks...

I am not a string breaker and usually cut it out after 10h max, never thought of it as fragile

 

[AceyMan]

about it breaking during stringing. Is the string this soft/fragile?

If you can break a syngut on the stringer, just
go ahead and commit Hari-kari with your grommet awl—that'd be the stringer gods sending you a message.

It's a good, maybe great, syngut. Get a reel, try it out. You can probably sell it at zero loss with 170+m left, if you need to, there are so many fans.

My 2¢.

/Acey

 

[LittleDawg]

In my experience Kirschbaum SG in 16 or 17 is softer than Gosen but not mushy. Kinda goldilocks...

I am not a string breaker and usually cut it out after 10h max, never thought of it as fragile

Have you compared Kirschbaum 16g to Babolat 16g synthetic gut? Power, comfort?

 

[n8dawg6]

Since all the syngut junkies have eyes on this thread ...

Does anyone have playing time with Yonex Dynawire. Or the other one, the "standard" syngut, Monopreme.

You know I'm always in the hunt for the hot new version of a fifty year old design <hehe>.

/Acey

I've got a packet of the Monopreme but haven't laced it up in anything. If I do, I'll add my feels here.

dynawire seems exactly like prince lightning XX to me.

 

[jalapeno74]

Have you compared Kirschbaum 16g to Babolat 16g synthetic gut? Power, comfort?

Nope, I got Babolat Spiraltak here which is softer - but not the "regular" Babolat SG

 

[struggle]

SynGod.

 

[LittleDawg]

Nope, I got Babolat Spiraltak here which is softer - but not the "regular" Babolat SG

I will have to compare myself then, oh well have to buy some more string! Thanks anyway

 

[graycrait]

If you had a pair of XL 115" rackets that had 18x20 patterns and wanted to string 15 or 15L syn gut in them what tension would you start at. These are not your usual RA 71+ 8.9oz granny sticks. These rackets ar 10.6 and 11oz respectively with an RA or 66 each.

 

[AceyMan]

If you had a pair of XL 115" rackets that had 18x20 patterns and wanted to string 15 or 15L syn gut in them what tension would you start at.

probably 27~28½ kg or so. (That's 59~62 in Yankee Units).

My target DT for syngut is 37 which those tensions would be in the right range to get there.

Since you have the frames, get a tape measure and you can punch the dimensions into Fred's (Stringway's) Online Tension Advisor to get the exact numbers.

/Acey
[edit: numeric typo]